Clubmans racing - what's it all about?

**Punchy** · 6th May 2012, 20:15

Originally Posted by Duke5

Its been a long time since i posted on this site but here goes.

I hope you didn't take my 'burglar' jokes too seriously, I was just having a laugh :-)

**Duke5** · 6th May 2012, 20:25

Originally Posted by Punchy

I hope you didn't take my 'burglar' jokes too seriously, I was just having a laugh :-)

Shit that was close. Had a couple of my big samoan mates about to knock on yout door

See ya next time Evan and good luck in F2. Just stop knocking my mates off into the gravel though ..........

**steveyb** · 8th May 2012, 09:01

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Don't recall EVER seeing the little bikes entered in Clubbies...400's maybe.

Recently perhaps, but early on in my career (starting in 1988) clubman class was where you started out and that was on your road bike, or if you were well heeled, on the racebike you bought and most of us had 250's or 400's or maybe 600's, but they were very slow compared to a modern 600.

There were riders of all levels on all sorts of bikes, all trying to improve so they could move into a race class.
More recently, I think because of the proliferation of older guys on BIG bikes getting into Clubman, I for one have been councilling riders on small bikes to go straight into the appropriate race class cos most of the riders therein will be the same as them.
So Clubman, certainly at VMCC has morphed into this 'race class' where old guys on BIG FAST bikes can get a buzz and boost their egos in a competitive trackday. Sorry to be blunt, but have a think about it.

If you were serious about racing, you would get yourself a skill level appropriate machine and learn to ride the wheels off that before progressing up to something else. What are you learning by wobbling around the corners on a Superbike and then blasting down the straights, the whole time being scared shitless that you are going to get launched into the air and throw away your $20-80k machine?

Can anyone tell me what would be wrong with those riders going and buying themselves each a $3-4k Honda CBR250 and riding that in Mini-lite, learning race craft and race skills for the change in their pockets with little worry about being launched into the air, unless they have an issue with their egos?

**montsta56** · 8th May 2012, 09:40

What he said

Originally Posted by steveyb

Recently perhaps, but early on in my career (starting in 1988) clubman class was where you started out and that was on your road bike, or if you were well heeled, on the racebike you bought and most of us had 250's or 400's or maybe 600's, but they were very slow compared to a modern 600.

There were riders of all levels on all sorts of bikes, all trying to improve so they could move into a race class.
More recently, I think because of the proliferation of older guys on BIG bikes getting into Clubman, I for one have been councilling riders on small bikes to go straight into the appropriate race class cos most of the riders therein will be the same as them.
So Clubman, certainly at VMCC has morphed into this 'race class' where old guys on BIG FAST bikes can get a buzz and boost their egos in a competitive trackday. Sorry to be blunt, but have a think about it.

If you were serious about racing, you would get yourself a skill level appropriate machine and learn to ride the wheels off that before progressing up to something else. What are you learning by wobbling around the corners on a Superbike and then blasting down the straights, the whole time being scared shitless that you are going to get launched into the air and throw away your $20-80k machine?

Can anyone tell me what would be wrong with those riders going and buying themselves each a $3-4k Honda CBR250 and riding that in Mini-lite, learning race craft and race skills for the change in their pockets with little worry about being launched into the air, unless they have an issue with their egos?

**MSTRS:Me** · 8th May 2012, 09:43

Originally Posted by steveyb

Recently perhaps, but early on in my career (starting in 1988) clubman class was where you started out and that was on your road bike, or if you were well heeled, on the racebike you bought and most of us had 250's or 400's or maybe 600's, but they were very slow compared to a modern 600.

There were riders of all levels on all sorts of bikes, all trying to improve so they could move into a race class.
More recently, I think because of the proliferation of older guys on BIG bikes getting into Clubman, I for one have been councilling riders on small bikes to go straight into the appropriate race class cos most of the riders therein will be the same as them.
So Clubman, certainly at VMCC has morphed into this 'race class' where old guys on BIG FAST bikes can get a buzz and boost their egos in a competitive trackday. Sorry to be blunt, but have a think about it.

If you were serious about racing, you would get yourself a skill level appropriate machine and learn to ride the wheels off that before progressing up to something else. What are you learning by wobbling around the corners on a Superbike and then blasting down the straights, the whole time being scared shitless that you are going to get launched into the air and throw away your $20-80k machine?

Can anyone tell me what would be wrong with those riders going and buying themselves each a $3-4k Honda CBR250 and riding that in Mini-lite, learning race craft and race skills for the change in their pockets with little worry about being launched into the air, unless they have an issue with their egos?

Different strokes for different folks.
Clubbies HAS morphed somewhat into a defacto big-bike race class, which is why Vic has lowered the laptime threshold, and PMCC has changed the format/name entirely.
I agree too that competitors should learn race craft on smaller bikes in Mini-lites (say) before moving up the cc brackets, but say I want to race on my GSXR750...I can only enter F1. Forget my skills (lack of...) the bike is hopelessly out-classed, doesn't fit in any other class so I am left with Clubmans. If I'm good enough, and want to continue racing, but for points, then I'd need to sort my priorites.
Which is the whole reason why Clubbies as a class, exists.
In saying that, some Clubbies riders are happy right where they are (like Wendy on her big Ducati), are never at the pointy end and never will be, but they do go out and enjoy themselves...what's the harm?

**Clivoris** · 8th May 2012, 10:45

Originally Posted by steveyb

Can anyone tell me what would be wrong with those riders going and buying themselves each a $3-4k Honda CBR250 and riding that in Mini-lite, learning race craft and race skills for the change in their pockets with little worry about being launched into the air, unless they have an issue with their egos?

Bah. Real men race Street-stock 150. I've learned much about riding and even more about how to be good humoured after being thrashed by teenagers. Seriously cheap racing.

**slowpoke** · 8th May 2012, 12:01

Originally Posted by steveyb

If you were serious about racing, you would get yourself a skill level appropriate machine and learn to ride the wheels off that before progressing up to something else. What are you learning by wobbling around the corners on a Superbike and then blasting down the straights, the whole time being scared shitless that you are going to get launched into the air and throw away your $20-80k machine?

Can anyone tell me what would be wrong with those riders going and buying themselves each a $3-4k Honda CBR250 and riding that in Mini-lite, learning race craft and race skills for the change in their pockets with little worry about being launched into the air, unless they have an issue with their egos?

Because club racing is NOT SERIOUS. My day job is serious. I go racing to have fun, challenge myself and generally forget every other bloody stress in my life for a few laps at a time. I, and people like me, are never going to be Stroudy, I/we can't make up a 30 year head start with a year on a Pro-Lite, then another on a Pro-Twin, another on a 600 and graduate to a Superbike when we are 50years old. We ride the bikes we like, to get the biggest buzz we can, simple as that. Just like a third division club rugby player still trots out at age 45, we go out for an occassional gallop for the sheer love of it. If that's not what club racing is about then I don't know what is.

**MSTRS:Me** · 8th May 2012, 12:08

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Because club racing is NOT SERIOUS. My day job is serious. I go racing to have fun, challenge myself and generally forget every other bloody stress in my life for a few laps at a time. I, and people like me, are never going to be Stroudy, I/we can't make up a 30 year head start with a year on a Pro-Lite, then another on a Pro-Twin, another on a 600 and graduate to a Superbike when we are 50years old. We ride the bikes we like, to get the biggest buzz we can, simple as that. Just like a third division club rugby player still trots out at age 45, we go out for an occassional gallop for the sheer love of it. If that's not what club racing is about then I don't know what is.

Exactly. And well put.

**CM2005** · 8th May 2012, 15:32

I haven't read this whoile thread - i find it difficult to read 20 plus line posts on teh interwebs buuut

i raced my '08 zx6r in clubbies (VMCC) last year, had an awesome time, got on the podium once and have huge battles every meeting- my best lap at manfield was a 1:23.6, so way too slow for F2. I did have spare wheels for wets, but i didnt use tyre warmers until rnd 5 of last year so you can run on a small budget easily.

Decided this year to go F2 and now my PB is 1:18(the cutoff time for Clubmans at manfield) which is right at the back of the F2 grid, not quite getting lapped in a 6 lap race. But definitely happy i only did one season in it.

**c4.** · 8th May 2012, 18:04

Just like a third division club rugby player still trots out at age 45, we go out for an occassional gallop for the sheer love of it. If that's not what club racing is about then I don't know what is.[/QUOTE]

+1